vehicles
AJAC Names 28 Semi-Finalists for 2027 Canadian Car of the Year — EV Category Eliminated
The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada announced 28 semi-finalists across five categories for 2027, dropping the separate EV category. Electric vehicles now compete head-to-head with gas and hybrid models in the main awards.
The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) has announced the 28 semi-finalists for the 2027 Canadian Car of the Year Awards, revealing a notable structural change: separate electric vehicle categories have been eliminated. EVs, plug-in hybrids, and regular hybrids now compete directly against gasoline-only models in the main award categories.
Why AJAC dropped the EV category
AJAC said the decision reflects how Canadian shoppers now buy vehicles. Because EVs compete so closely on price with established fuel-burning vehicles, buyers cross-shop across powertrains. Maintaining a separate EV division no longer reflected real-world buying behaviour, the association said.
In place of two removed categories, three new ones have been added: Luxury Car, Luxury Utility Vehicle, and Truck. The five 2027 categories are:
- Canadian Car of the Year
- Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year
- Canadian Luxury Car of the Year (new)
- Canadian Luxury Utility Vehicle of the Year (new)
- Canadian Truck of the Year (new)
The 28 semi-finalists
Canadian Car of the Year: Honda Civic, Hyundai Ioniq 6 N, Kia EV4, Kia K4, Nissan Sentra
Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year: Hyundai Palisade, Jeep Cherokee, Kia EV3, Kia EV5, Toyota RAV4
Canadian Luxury Car of the Year: Acura Integra Type S, Genesis G80, Genesis G90, Lexus ES, Lucid Air, Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric, Porsche 911 Carrera/Targa
Canadian Luxury Utility Vehicle of the Year: BMW iX3, Genesis GV60 Magma, Infiniti QX65, Lexus NX, Porsche Cayenne Electric, Volvo EX60
Canadian Truck of the Year: Ford F-150, Ford Maverick, Ram 1500, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Tundra
What to watch
The top 10 finalists will be revealed at the Montreal Auto Show on January 14, 2027. Winners in each category will be announced on February 11, 2027, at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto.
For Canadian EV buyers, the elimination of a standalone EV award is a signal that the market has matured enough for electric vehicles to be judged on their own merits alongside every other powertrain — a meaningful shift in how the industry's most prestigious domestic award treats electrification.
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